In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we spoke with Lynnette Hollis, an instructor in the Freshman Transition Academy at Delcastle High School in Wilmington, DE, about the school’s inspiring service project, the Soul to Sole Sock Drive. Hollis is also the adviser of the school club Leading Ladies Empowerment Group and the heart behind the service project. Below, she shares her insights on the club’s sock drive, its impact, and empowering student voices.Â
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Encourage Your NJHS Students to Apply for the Outstanding Achievement Award
Are your NJHS students living out the core pillars of the National Junior Honor Society: scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship? If so, it’s time to recognize them for their hard work and dedication. The NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA) offers a remarkable opportunity for students to celebrate their accomplishments and further their educational aspirations, with the top 500 being awarded a $500 college savings plan. But the January 24 application deadline is fast approaching.
(more…)Four Podcasts for School Leaders on the Go
Finding time to gather insights and inspiration can be a challenge. For your convenience, we’ve curated a selection of podcasts sure to be of interest. They feature NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe and State Principals of the Year. Whether you want to learn something new on your morning commute or take a well-deserved ten-minute working break, take a listen to the podcasts below.Â
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Instructional Benefits May Be the #1 Reason to Implement AP Precalculus
Every year, thousands of students pay for college math courses that duplicate the math they mastered in their high school precalculus courses. That’s because they didn’t earn college credit for the college-level math that they learned. AP® Precalculus helps solve that problem by addressing some of the greatest challenges students face in achieving their bachelor’s degree.
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Five Critical Skill Sets and Their Instructional Implications
From major societal and technological shifts to climate change, AI, and more, students today live in a rapidly transforming world.
In addition to metacognitive skills, I believe there are five key “learning to learn” skill sets that will increase school success and better prepare students for a lifetime of change.
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Transforming Schools Into Communities
School leaders want students to succeed and become their best selves, within schools bursting with positivity. However, the reality is that educators are dealing with some hard challenges. Amidst a trifecta of concerns at schools around the country—student learning loss, low student engagement, and a rise in student behavior problems—how can school leaders like yourself transform schools into thriving communities?
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Rethinking Your English Sequence With AP Seminar Â
AP® Seminar was the fastest-growing AP course in 2023 and saw a 30% increase in student enrollment. Even with such growth, 85% of AP Seminar students earned scores of 3 or higher, the same as the previous year. Today, almost 3,000 schools offer this course. The most rapid adoption is taking place within English departments, and more than half of participating schools have designated AP Seminar as their English 10 course. This is largely because teachers can meet state English Language Arts standards while providing students with cross-curricular exposure through evidence-based reading, writing, and speaking. Students who take the course fulfill a core English course requirement and benefit from a seminar-style approach that builds skills needed to succeed in high school, college, and career. They also have a chance to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both.
(more…)Wisconsin Principal Named NASSP National Principal of the Year
NASSP announced that Andrew Farley, the principal of Brookfield East High School, in Brookfield, WI, is the 2024 NASSP National Principal of the Year.
(more…)What to Look for in a Professional Development PartnerÂ
District and building administrators have a dizzying array of professional learning options to choose from these days. It’s a big investment for any decision-maker, but an essential one. Forbes estimates $18 billion is spent each year on K–12 professional development (PD) in the United States—but that’s a national statistic. Your decision of which PD to purchase is personal. So, let’s dig in.
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For Principals, Attitude Is Everything
“Do you like your job?” That’s a question I’ve been asked several times by students and even teachers over the course of my nine years as a secondary school principal. It’s a valid question and one that people who are contemplating their position in life probably think about more than say out loud, but it’s one I shouldn’t have to answer.  Â
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My Rise Experience: More Than Just a ScholarshipÂ
I first heard about Rise during my sophomore year of high school. While scrolling through Instagram, I found a video about a program that provided opportunities for promising young people committed to serving others. This piqued my interest. The application itself was fairly straightforward—all it required was that I record videos talking about my passions and recent projects. I was also able to check out hundreds of inspiring projects from other applicants on the platform.
(more…)NASSP Members’ Schools Receive National Blue Ribbon Award
Of the 353 schools that the U.S. Department of Education named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023, 11 are headed by school leaders who are members of NASSP. The recognition, announced in late September, is given to schools in honor of their overall academic performance or for their progress in closing achievement gaps.Â
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Why Every Student Council Should Apply for NCOE Awards
Applications for the 2024 National Council of Excellence (NCOE) Awards—representing council activities and projects from January 1 to December 31, 2023—opened last month. To understand the benefits of applying for and receiving such recognition, we spoke with Shawn Freeman, a student council adviser at Ada High School in Ada, OK, and the executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Student Councils. In 2023, for the 11th year in a row, the student council at Ada was recognized as an NCOE. Freeman has worked with the student council since the first year it applied, and she continues to encourage her student leaders to push themselves to new levels of excellence. Here’s why she says other student councils should apply.
(more…)NASSP Announces 2024 Principal of the Year FinalistsÂ
At the start of National Principals Month, NASSP today named Sham Bevel, Andrew Farley, and Kimberly Winterbottom the 2024 NASSP National Principal of the Year finalists. This annual award recognizes outstanding secondary school principals’ exemplary contributions to their schools, staff, students, and the profession.
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Ensuring Safety at Football Games and After-school Events
An exciting part of fall is the return of Friday night football. But tragically, many communities across the country have already been shattered by gun violence this school year on far too many Fridays. While school shootings continue to be a painfully regular occurrence, we hope that Americans refuse to become complacent in accepting this as normal. Ever since my school experienced a shooting in January of 2017, each of these tragedies has impacted me indifferent and profound ways.
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Four Ways to Ensure Honor Society Induction Ceremonies Run Smoothly
McAnally Middle School in Fort Worth, TX, inducted its first group of National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) students last spring. Kate Thomas, the NJHS adviser and an eighth-grade science teacher at the school, learned a lot that first year about how to run a chapter and, more specifically, how to put together a smooth induction ceremony. She offers a few tips for new advisers seeking advice on successful induction ceremonies.
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Partnerships Open New Job Opportunities to High School StudentsÂ
At Harrison High School in Harrison, AR, we are committed to ensuring that every graduate leaves our school as one of “the three Es: enrolled, employed, or enlisted.” This approach has led to a series of initiatives that have transformed our approach to education and career readiness.Â
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Five Tips for New NHS Advisers
Congratulations! You are now an NHS adviser. At this moment, you are probably filled with a variety of emotions—from excited and anxious to overwhelmed and terrified at the thought of beginning your new role. Don’t panic! You are not alone. I must confess that years ago, I too (along with most other NHS advisers I know) was—and still am at times—in your shoes. You have lots of questions and are wondering what to do. Although I don’t have all the answers, I do have some basic tips to share based on my own experience as an NHS adviser.
(more…)2023 NHS Scholarship Finalists Reflect on Award ExperienceÂ
Being named an NHS scholarship finalist is a prestigious honor that comes with the obvious perk of dollars toward a college education. But did you know that finalists also receive the trip of a lifetime to Washington, D.C.? Every spring 25 high school seniors designated as finalists come together to meet each other in person, learn from one another, and hear from inspirational speakers.
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An Inspired Approach to SELÂ
As a secondary school leader, you know how challenging it can be to bring change into the classroom. You may also be wondering if it’s worth the time to incorporate social and emotional learning (SEL) activities. We have good news:
- There are proven benefits of learning SEL skills far beyond the school community and student success. Studies have shown that the benefits are long-term and global, showing increased well-being in individuals up to 18 years later.
- SEL lesson plans can be implemented during the school day in as little as 5–10 minutes, some with little-to-no prep.